6 month lethargic kitten

[Pipsqeakhunt]

My kitten 6 months and is Maine Coone and usually very active, goofy, playful and he eats and drinks a lot.  He used to pant in hot weather last summer, but nothing else.   Then he started asthma type symptomsor two weeks   But, I changed the litter and stopped any other irritants like air fresheners and he hasn't had an episode since.  BUT now he is lethargic and irritable and whines if I try to pick him up. He gets mad when I try to pet him even and let's me know I need to just leave him alone.  I gave hime flea meds a week ago and he seemed sick afterwards for two days but bounced back!   but then he got lethargic again a week later. He's been tested for feline HIV and leukemia and it's negative when he got neutered two months ago. He does not go outside. My older cat had watery eyes and was somewhat less active for two weeks but she has bounced back and is her playful usual self again but now my new baby is so lethargic.  He forgets to drink.  I have to put it up him and then he will drink but he acts like at first that he doesn't know what water is.   He just wants to be alone. It is so complicated and many many things going on that I doubt anyone can offer advise.  But, if anyone has any advice, I will surely much appreciate it.

[CML2014]

Hi ,
Pipsqeakhunt (cute name)

Taking your pet to the vet at the first sign of distress is all we can do and the best thing to do. Happy to hear you have a diagnosis--they can do wonders with meds today.

Let us know how he is doing .

[evewisewoman]

You're very welcome. I'm glad to hear that you took your kitty to the vet.
I wish you both the best.  Eve

[Pipsqeakhunt]

Thank you for your help.  He saw the vet tonight.  He is Maine coone and has inherent cardiomyopathy with heart enlargement and bad murmur.  Also, a fever due to an infection with unknown etiology. He is dehydrated but he could not receive IV fluids b/c his heart couldn't have handled the fluid load.  His potassium is off due to not eating  I'm home w my little guy and antibiotics for him.  He was given a prednisone shot.  He has eaten, drank and perked up some tonight :-). I'm waiting on final rad reading and he may be prescribed heart meds.  So, he didn't have asthma but pulmonary edema before but his lungs were clear tonight, thank god. But, doc said his posture indicates diff with breathing.  Doc didn't think he is having reaction to flea meds but I will only use vet prescribed meds from now on.  I hope my kitten can recover this crisis and can stabilize with heart meds.  I won't let him suffer.  I know what I may have to do if he will be suffering

[evewisewoman]

Hello there,

I've heard you have to be careful with over the counter flea meds you buy
in a pet shop. Personally, I would bring your kitty to your vet asap
and have your vet take a look at your kitty.  Do you have a flea collar
on your kitty right now ?  I've heard they can be harmful to cats, don't
know if this is true or not. You say kitty is so lethargic he forgets to
drink.  Drinking is very important for a cat for a number of reasons.
You say he whines if you pick he up. This suggests to me that your
kitty is possibly in pain. Cats don't whine for no reason. He may have
some sort of infection that is causing him pain. Please take your fur baby
to be seen by a vet. It sounds to me like he needs medical attention.
Kittens and older cats are good at hiding when they are sick.  
p.s. You say you gave him flea meds a week ago.  You need to tell
your vet this. This piece of information is important as well as all the
other symptoms like forgetting to drink, whining when you go to pick
him up. Do not use air freshners around your cat. They are irritants
to a cat . Goes right into their lungs. Your kitty needs in my opinion
urgent medical care from a registered veterinarian.  Eve ( mother of
Sammy the cat )